Automatic bowling-alley.



PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

T. & P. R. MONAMARA.

AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15,1903. 7

5 SKEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

T. & F. R. MONAMARA. AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16,1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' HIE A. x, li: s M Q 0mm .Y Q Q Q m: \Q Qn PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905. T. &F. E. McNAMARA. AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15,1903.

wllll ".EELMB No. 779,494. 'PATENTED JAN. 10, 190.5.

T. 6: P. R. McNAMARA.

AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15,1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

7/ 58 3 2, 49 ii 4 9 v /9 69 A, I, j 2 1 1 v 1/ x w Inventors.

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K/qQiJZ/W By aw W No. 779,494. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

T. & F. R. MoNAMARA.

/ M V 1L Fig.1], 00000 0000000--7Z O O O O O O 0 0 0 0 O O Witnesses.0:. 0 0 0 69 0 o o o a inventors.

THOMAS MONAMARA AND FRANK R. MCNAMARA, OF NElV YORK.

Patented January 10, 1905 PATENT OFFICE.

DUNKIRK,

AUTOMATIC BOWLING-ALLEY.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,494, dated January10, 1905. Application filed July 15, 1903. Serial No. 165,683.

To all whom, it 771/607] concern:

Be it known that we,THoMAs MONAMARA and FRANK R. MGNAMAEA, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Dunkirk, in the county of Chautauqua andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Bowling-Alleys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved automatic bowlingalley in whichthe pins are placed in position and the balls returned without the aidof a boy at the rear of the alley.

The main object of the invention is to dispense with the boy usuallyrequired for setting up the pins and returning the balls by arrangingapin-setting and ball-returning apparatus in the rear of the alley whichis controlled by a single means from the front of the alley and operatedto set up the pins and return the balls practically simultaneously.

The invention also relates to a means controlled from the front of thealley for removing the knocked-down pins which is operated separate anddistinct from the pin-setting and ball-returning mechanism and tocertain details of construction, all of which will be fully and clearlyhereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section throughan alley on line a a, Fig. 2, equipped with the improved pin-setting andball-returning apparatus. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line I) 6,Fig. 1, looking in'the direction of the arrow V. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection on line 6?), Fig. 1, looking in a direction opposite to thearrow V. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the alley online c, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow W. Fig. 5 is anenlarged fragmentary section on line 0 c, Fig. 1, looking in a directionopposite to the arrow WV, showing the shafts upon which the sheaves aremounted. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line. (Z (Z, Fig.2. Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse section on line 0 a, Fig. 2, showingthe pin-elevating mechanism in its normal position. Fig. '8 is anenlarged transverse section on line 6 a, Fig.

2, a number of pins being knocked down and showing the mechanism forlifting the knocked-down pins ofii the alley in its lower position infull lines and near its upper position in dotted lines. Fig. 9 is anenlarged fragmentary section on line a 6, Fig. 2, showing a fragmentarysection through a pin im paled on the spikes, the spikes being about tobe withdrawn from the pin. Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section online ff, Fig. 2, showing a portion of the mechanism for returning theballs. Fig. 11 is an enlarged detached plan view of the plate forreleasing the pins.

In referring to the drawings for the details of construction likenumerals designate like parts.

In the accompanying illustrations two alleys (designated by thenumeral 1) are shown, which are of the well-known type and are providedwith the usual side gutters 2 and inclined trough 3, which is placedbetween the two alleys for returning the balls. The usual cushion 4: isalso secured to the rear wall of the room in which the alleys areplaced, which acts as a bumper for the pins and balls to strikeagainst.-

The mechanism for setting thepins is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5,inclusive, and referenoe will be had to these figures in the followingdescription: Two sets of pins 5, numbering ten in each set, are placedin the form of an equilateral triangle near the rear end of each alley1, and each pin 5 has the lower end of a chain 6 securely fastened toits head in any well-known way. These chains 6 are equal in number tothe number of pins 5, and each chain 6 extends vertically upward fromthe pin to which it is attached and around a pulley 7, journaled in abracket 8, which is fastened to the ceiling 9 of the room. Each chain 6is then carried forward and its opposite end secured to and wound arounda sheave 10, rigidly fastened to a transverse horizontal shaft 11, whichhas its ends journaled in brackets 12, depending from the ceiling 9. Thebrackets 8 and pulleys 7 are equal in number to the number of chains 6and are placed in substantially the same form as the pins 5. The sheavesare equal in number to the number of chains 6 and are mounted upon theshaft 11 directly above the alleys 1 and in such position that thechains 6 will not interfere with each other. A gear-wheel 13 is mountedupon one end of the shaft 11 and meshes with a pinion 14, rigidlymounted upon a short shaft 15, which is journaled in a depending portion16 of one of the brackets 12. A sprocket-wheel 17 is secured to theshaft 15, and a chain 18 connects the sprocket-wheel 17 to asprocketwheel 19, mounted on a shaft 20, which is journaled in a bracket21, bolted to the ceiling 9 of the room and near the front of thealleys. A hand-wheel 22 is mounted upon one end of the shaft 20, bymeans of which the shaft may be easily rotated, and by means of thesprocket-wheel 19, chain 18, sprocketwheel 17 and gears 14 and 13rotates the shaft 11 and winds or unwinds the chains 6 upon the sheaves10.

The mechanism for returning the balls is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4,and 10 and consists of a movable platform which can be raised or loweredat will to deposit the balls in the trough 3. This platform, which islocated at the rear end of the alleys 1 and directly behind the pins 5,consists of a bottom platform or member 23, vertically-extending endframe pieces or members 24, and a horizontal top frame piece or member25, which is bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the top of the endframe members 24. Angular brackets 26 are bolted to the upper ends ofthe end frame members and the outer ends of the horizontal framemen1ber25 to strengthen the structure. The frame is additionallystrengthened by diagonally-extending bracerods 27 and 28, which extendfrom the vertical end members 24 to the bottom platform or member 23 andfrom the vertical end members 24 to the horizontal top frame member 25.The bottom platform or member 23 is beveled from its ends to the centerand from the rear to the front, so thata ball rolling onto the platformor bottom 23 would roll toward the front and center of the platformdirectly in the rear of the rear end of the trough 3 and as the platformwas raised would enter the trough 3 and return to the front of thealleys. The platform or bottom 23 is provided at its front edge with avertically-extending flange 29, which extends from the ends of theplatform 23 inwardly to near the center thereof, the purpose of which isto prevent the balls from rolling off the platform 23 onto the alleys asthe platform 23 is raised. The platform or bottom 23 is also providedwith a tongue or extension 30,ex tending outwardly from the middle ofits front edge and which is adapted to move u pwardly and downwardly inthe rear end of the waaea trough 3, thus providing a means for guidingthe ball into the trough. The platform for returning the balls is raisedand lowered by means of two chains 31, each of which is attached at itslower end to the horizontal top frame 25 and near one end thereof. Thechains 31 extend vertically upward and around two pulleys 32, mounted inbrackets 33, bolted or otherwise secured to the ceiling 9, and thenforward, having their forward ends secured to and wound around drums 34,which are rigidly fastened to the shaft 11 and near each end thereof.The drums 34 are preferably made of smaller diameter than the sheaves'10, as shown, so that when the shaft 11 is roextending guideway 35 issecured to each of the side walls 36 of the room and directly oppositethe vertical end frame members 24 of the elevating-platform, and each ofthe vertical end frame members 24 has two brackets 37 bolted theretonear its upper and lower ends. Each bracket 37 is provided with a shortshaft 38, which extends horizontally outward therefrom, and a roller 39is mounted upon each of the shafts 38, the brackets 37 being placed sothat the rollers 39 operate upon opposite sides of the guideways 35 andserve to guide the platform as it is elevated or lowered. (See Figs. 1and 10.) Two chains 40 are fastened at their lower ends to thehorizontal top frame member 25 near each end thereof, and each chain 40extends upwardly and around a sheave 41, which is located'in an openingin the upper end of a guideway and journaled on a short shaft 42,mounted in the guideway 35. The opposite end of each chain 40 passesthrough an opening in the wall 36 and over a roller 43, mounted in saidwall 36, and is secured to the upper end of a counterweight 44, whichoperates in a slideway 45, formed in the wall 36, the counterweights 44being lighter than the elevatingplatform, so that the platform willautomatically return to its lower position after the balls have rolledinto the trough 3 and the hand-wheel 22 has been reversed.

A mechanism for lifting the pins from the alley that have been knockeddown by the first ball. so as to remove them from the path of the nextball, is provided, which is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9,and 11. A plate 46, preferably formed of wood, substantially square inform and approximately equal in width to the width of the alley 1, ishorizontally supported vertically above the pins 5 by means ofdiagonally extending braces 47, which are secured at their upper ends toa downwardly-extending flange 47 a on each of the side edges of theplate 46 and at their lower ends to the floor of the room and the sideof the trough 3. This plate 46 is provided with a plurality of circularopenings 48, (see Fig. 6,) which are equal in number to the number ofpins 5, the said pins 5 being located vertically beneath the openings 48when in position. (See Fig. 2.) The openings 48 are of a considerablylarger diameter than the greatest diameter of the pins 5, so that theymay be easily passed through said openings when changed or repaired, anda plate 49, having a circular opening 50 of a slightly larger diameterthan the greatest diameter of the upper portion of the pins 5, issecured to the top of the plate 46 by screws or bolts immediately aboveeach of the openings 48 (see Fig. 6) and serves to accurately center thepins 5 before they are lowered into position. In setting up theapparatus the plates 49 are moved above the openings 48 until they areexactly central with the pins. A metal plate 51 of approximately thesame width as the plate 46 is supported directly beneath the plate 46 bymeans of a plurality of rods 52, which are secured to the top surface ofthe plate 51 and extend vertically upward through openings in the plate46. A plurality of chains 53, each of which has one end secured to theupper end of each of the rods 52, extend vertically upward and around aseries of pulleys 54, rigidly fastened vertically above the rods 52 totwo horizontally-extending shafts 55, which are journaled at their endsin brackets 56, bolted to the side walls 36 of the room. (See Fig. 4.)The opposite ends of the chains 53 are secured to and wound aroundsheaves 57, rigidly fastened upon a horizontally-extending shaft 58,journaled in bearings 59, which are bolted to the side walls 36 of theroom. A sprocket-wheel is mounted upon the shaft 58.near one endthereof, and a chain 61 connects the sprocket wheel 60 to asprocket-wheel 62, mounted upon ashorthorizontally-extending shaft 63,which is journaled in a bearing 64, bolted to the side wall 36 of theroom and near the forward end of the alleys. A hand-wheel is mountedupon the shaft'63 and serves to rotate said shaft and by means of thesprocket-wheels 60 and 62 and chain 61 rotates the shaft 58 and winds orunwinds the chain 53 upon the sheaves 57, and thus raises or lowers theplate 51. The plate 51 is provided with a plurality ofclownwardly-extending pins or spikes 66, which are sharpened at theirlower ends, as shown in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, and a plurality ofcircular openings 67, which correspond in number and size to theopenings 48 in the plate 46 and register therewith. A plate 68,preferably formed of wood and of aslightly greater width than the plate51, is fastened to said plate 51 by means of a plurality of spiralsprings 69, (see Figs. 9 and 11,) the plate 68 being provided with aplurality of openings 70, equal in number and size to the openings 67 inthe plate 51 and registering therewith. The plate 68 is also providedwith a plurality of small openings 71, through which the spikes 66 areadapted to pass. (See Fig. 9.)

Referring to Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, it will be seen that the metalplate 51, carrying the spikes 66, is narrow enough to pass between thedownwardly-extending flanges 47 of the plate 46 and that the plate 68 issufliciently wider than the plate 51 so as to be prevented from movingfarther than the bottom edges of the flanges 47.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: After the pins 5 have beenall knocked down and it is desired to replace them in position thehand-wheel 22 is rotated, which rotates the shaft 11, as heretoforedescribed, and winds the chains 6 upon the sheaves 10 until the pins 5have been lifted high enough off the alley so that they will beaccurately centered by openings 50 in the plate 49. The rotation of theshaft 11 also winds the chains 31 upon the drums 34 and elevates theplatform, thus permitting the balls to enter the trough 3 and return theballs to the forward end of the alley. WVhen the pins 5 have beencentered, as above described, the rotation of the handwheel 22 isreversed, thus unwinding the chains 6 and lowering the pins 5 intoposition upon the alley and at the same time lowering the platform byunwinding the chains 31 from the drums 34. When a number of pins 5 havebeen knocked down and it is desired to remove them from the path of thenext ball, the hand-wheel 65 is rotated,,which rotates the shaft 58 andunwinds the chains 53 therefrom, thereby lowering the plates 51 and 68and permitting the sharpened ends of the spikes 66 to embed themselvesin the pins 5, when the rotation of the hand-wheel 65 is reversed, whichwinds up the chains 53 upon the sheaves 57 and elevates the plates 51and 68, carrying the pins 5 which have been knocked down upward into theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. After the remaining pins 5have been knocked down the handwheel 65 is again rotated to wind up thechains 53, which will move the plates 51 and 68 upward until the plate68 comes in contact with the lower edges of the flanges 47 a on theplate 46, which holds said plate 68 stationary. The continued winding ofthe chains 53 upon the sheaves 57 carries the metal plate 51 and spikes66 upward against the tension of the springs 69 until the pins 5 come incontact with the bottom surface of the plate 68, when the spikes 66 arewithdrawn from the pins 5, allowing said pins to drop. Then the pins 5have been released from the spikes 66, the tension of the springs 69will draw the metal plate 51 downward into its normal position (see Fig.6) upon the release of the handwheel 65.

The purpose of employing the rods 52 is to provide a guide to preventthe plate 51 from swinging and to insure a vertical up-and-down movementof the plates 51 and 68.

In the foregoing description and accompanying illustrations the mainshaft 11 is operated by a chain and sprockets; but an ordinary belt andpulleys may be substituted therefor or a small turbine water-wheel,electric motor, or other suitable power device may be used to rotate theshaft 11 either by being mounted directly upon said shaft or upon theshaft 20, in the latter case being substituted for the hand-wheel 22.

In the accompanying illustrations and the foregoing description theapparatus has been described as operating upon two alleys; but it may beused to operate upon either one alley or more than two alleys. However,as the alleys are usually constructed in pairs the accompanyingillustrations show the preferred form of apparatus.

()ne of the advantages of this invention is that the pins are set andthe balls returned simultaneously by a single hand-wheel.

We claim as our invention 1. In a bowling-alley, the combination withthe alley proper, of mechanism arranged in the rear portion of the alleyfor alining the pins, including a board arranged above that portion ofthe alleys upon which the pins are set and having a plurality of holescorresponding in number to the pins employed and each hole beingvertically above the setting-point of a pin, a series of plates, each ofwhich is removably secured to the board in proximity to one of the holestherein and has an opening of smaller diameter than said hole adapted toaccurately center the pins and a plurality of chains corresponding innumber to the pins and each chain being connected to one of said pinsand passing through the hole in the board and opening in the platevertically above, and means for elevating said chains, substantially asset forth.

2. In a bowling-alley, the combination with the alley proper, ofmechanism arranged in the rear portion of the alley for alining thepins, including a series of pulleys equal in number to the pins and eachsupported vertically above one of said pins, a ball returning device, ashaft arranged above an intermediate portion of the alley and having aseries of drums and sheaves, a series of chains connected at their lowerends to the pins and extending vertically up over the pulleys and thenforward into connection with the sheaves and a second series of chainsextending from the ball-returning device to the drums, the sheaves beinglarger than the drums so that the first series of chains will unwindfaster therefrom and provide sufficient slack of chain when the pins areset up, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a bowling -alley having a ball-return chute, ofa movable platform located at the rear of the alley for elevating theballs to said return-chute; said platform being beveled from its ends tothe center and from the rear of said center outward to the front.

4. A bowling-alley having means for removing the knocked-down pins fromthe alley, including a vertically-movable frame having pointed dependingprojections adapted to stick in the pins.

5. A bowling-alley having means for removing the knocked-down pins fromthe alley, including a vertically-movable frame having a plurality ofboards, one of said boards having a series of holes and another a seriesof depending projections extending through the liolcs in thefirst-mentioned board and springs located between said boards.

6. A bowling-alley having means for removing knocked down pinsconsisting of two boards, one of which has depending projectionsextending through openings in theother, springs between said boards,means for vertically moving said boards and means for independentlydepressing the lower board to force the bowlingpins from the dependingprojections.

THOMAS MONAMARA. FRANK R. MGNAMARA. l Vitnesses to the signature ofThomas Mc- Narnara:

M. H. Soo'r'r, Ron'r. P. NEVIN, Jr. \Vitnesses to the signature of FrankR. McNamara:

\V. J. DnMrsnY, 1. P. OCoNNnn.

